Category: Student success

Alumni Spotlight: Avery Hoffman

Current or most recent title and employer?
Merchandise Coordinator at Neiman Marcus Group

How did SC4 help prepare you?
I was in Middle College while I was also still in high school. I also stayed home a year to attend SC4 and graduate from the Middle College program, earning two associate degrees. I then transferred to the University of Alabama. I had already completed all of my prerequisites, so I was able to jump right into my core curriculum for my major.

What do you like most about what you do professionally?
I am able to travel while I work from home.

Did you transfer on and earn other degrees? If so, what degrees and from where?
A bachelor’s degree in human environmental sciences at the University of Alabama.

Alumni Spotlight: Shawnna Apley

Current or most recent title and employer?
Front Desk Agent at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, MI

How did SC4 help prepare you?
I was able to complete my degree in liberal arts at SC4 through the Blue Water Middle College Program. Since then, I have accelerated greatly in my undergraduate courses. I will be getting my bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism management from Grand Valley State University in August of 2023 and have plans to attend graduate school thereafter. SC4 and BWMC helped me to grow my professional endeavors by always encouraging me to think big. I am thankful for the position this College has put me in every day.

What do you like most about what you do professionally?
In my professional work, I am able to talk with guests every day, meet new people and expand my knowledge of the hospitality industry. Because of SC4 and BWMC, I am able to not only work in my field while in my degree but study a subject that I am extremely passionate about. Both of these programs truly accelerated my higher education journey. If I didn’t take classes at SC4 I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Did you transfer on and earn other degrees? If so, what degrees and from where?
I am currently a senior at Grand Valley State University and will receive my bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism management with an emphasis in lodging and tourism management in August of 2023! SC4 allowed me to be able to go into my bachelor’s degree program knowing exactly what I wanted and saved me huge amounts of money along the way.

Winter 2023 fast-path courses help students and residents earn credits faster, explore passions at SC4

Registration is open for fast-path winter semester classes at St. Clair County Community College. Seats are available in 12-week classes starting the week of Feb. 6 and eight-week classes starting the week of March 13.

Fast-path classes allow students to earn credits that count toward general education or degree requirements at a quicker pace. Sections are available for classes in topics that include art, business, management, marketing, cybersecurity, English, French, history, mathematics, psychology, political science, speech and more.

Offerings this winter help students and community members expand their knowledge base and uncover passions.

Examples of some specific courses offered this winter include:

  • ART 120-67—Art Appreciation
  • BUS 150-66—Principles of Business
  • BUS 155-66—Principles of Management
  • BUS 186-65—Internet Marketing
  • BUS 252-65—Consumer Behavior
  • CIS 105-65—Cybersecurity Essentials
  • ENG 101-63—English Composition I
  • FR 101-2—Introductory French 1
  • GEO 105-63—Introduction to Meteorology
  • HIS 101-64—History Western Civ to 1715
  • HIS 150-61—History of U.S. 1877 to Present
  • MTH 110-62—Intermediate Algebra
  • MTH 120-65—Introduction to Statistics
  • PS 101-69—Intro to Political Science
  • PSY 180-63—Introduction to Psychology
  • SOC 101-65—Principles of Sociology
  • SPC 101-63—Speech Communication
  • THA 105-61—Oral Interpretation

“Whether you’re a student interested in earning credits toward your degree or transfer pathway faster, or you’re a community member interested in taking a course of interest to learn and grow, our fast-path courses are a fantastic option,” said Jessica Brown, Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Student Recruitment, Advising and Admissions.

A full list of courses and sections is available at sc4.edu/schedule, and new students can learn how to apply and register at sc4.edu/admissions/. Current students can register via the SC4 Portal at portal.sc4.edu.

For more information, contact the SC4 Admissions team at (810) 989-5571 or starthere@sc4.edu.

Joe Gibbons receives SC4 Distinguished Faculty Award

Joe Gibbons has been selected as the recipient of the St. Clair County Community College (SC4) Distinguished Faculty Award for 2022. Gibbons has been a professor of chemistry at SC4 for 31 years.

For Gibbons, staying focused on his students and their needs is essential. He is proud of their accomplishments and stays in contact with numerous former students, now calling many of them friends. “It has been a privilege to accompany them on their journeys,” Gibbons says.

In addition to a full-time teaching schedule, Gibbons has served the College in a variety of other ways.

He has taken a leadership role as a department chair several times, currently serving as department chair of SC4’s Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Division (STEM). In this position, he brings a thoughtful, historical and forward-thinking perspective to STEM departments and disciplines.

Gibbons also has been at the forefront of assessment at SC4 throughout his 31 years of service, leading committees and taking on significant projects to ensure that the information extracted from assessment data is meaningful and leads to improvements for SC4 students.

Also nominated this year for the SC4 Distinguished Faculty Award were Sandra Geliske in radiologic technology, Brandis Hubbard in biology, and Katy McCullough in nursing.

The Professional Development Committee annually coordinates nominations of faculty by their faculty peers for the Distinguished Faculty Award (DFA). As a member of NISOD, SC4 award nominees and winner also are submitted for the NISOD Excellence Award.

​​​​​​​The winner is awarded a Golden Apple and also receives a $1,000 stipend to use toward professional development. NISOD provides medals to all of the nominees and a plaque for the winner.